**“An entertaining, turbocharged race among the high mountain passes of six alpine countries.” —Liesl Schillinger, *New York Times Book Review*** For centuries the Alps have been witness to the march of armies, the flow of pilgrims and Crusaders, the feats of mountaineers, and the dreams of engineers. In *The Alps* , Stephen O’Shea (a graceful and passionate writer— *Washington Post* ) takes readers up and down these majestic mountains. Journeying through their 500-mile arc across France, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria, and Slovenia, he explores the reality behind historic events and reveals how the Alps have profoundly influenced culture and society.